His comments caused a stir…
A former Fine Gael local election candidate caused controversy online when he suggested that the former residents of Apollo House should have their services cut off and be frozen out of their accommodation.
All remaining residents of Apollo House left the office building this morning and have either been moved to housing or hostel accommodation paid for by the Home Sweet Home campaign.
William Whittle stood for Fine Gael at local election level in the Edenderry electoral area in Offaly in 2014, but was unsuccessful in his election attempt.
He tweeted yesterday: “#apollohouse cut all services off, freeze them out of it…”
#apollohouse cut all services off, freeze them out of it…
— William whittle (@wcwhittle) January 11, 2017
The Home Sweet Home campaign responded to his message by saying: “thank you for your compassion for vulnerable people in #apollohouse looking for suitable shelter and a #homesweethome”
thank you for your compassion for vulnerable people in #apollohouse looking for suitable shelter and a #homesweethome
— HomeSweetHome (@HSHIreland) January 11, 2017
Whittle wrote back: “you’re absolute disgrace trespassing on state property [sic]”
you're absolute disgrace trespassing on state property
— William whittle (@wcwhittle) January 11, 2017
Whittle, who has pictures of himself with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and European Commissioner Phil Hogan on his Twitter profile, received a strong response to his comments online.
Enda Kenny and myself pic.twitter.com/3qcgudUA8T
— William whittle (@wcwhittle) February 10, 2014
The reaction prompted him to say: “#apollohouse it’s amazing to see how many faceless people are out there afraid to put their face to their comments, that says it all.”
#apollohouse it's amazing to see how many faceless people are out there afraid to put their face to their comments, that says it all
— William whittle (@wcwhittle) January 11, 2017
JOE has contacted William Whittle for a response to his comments and will update the story if and when he responds.
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